Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of A10 dopaminergic neurons on aggressive behavior in rats.
The present study evaluated the effects of microinjections of 6-hydroxydopamine into the ventral mesencephalic tegmental area (nucleus A10) on aggressive behavior in rats. This treatment resulted in a reduction in foot-shock-induced fighting but failed to influence muricide (mouse-killing) behavior in chronically isolated rats. The general activity of animals tested in the open field was significantly increased two weeks after lesions. These behavioral changes were accompanied by a significant depletion of forebrain dopamine, with no difference between lesioned and sham-lesioned rats in norepinephrine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid levels.
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects*
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D016627:Oxidopamine